More than a million Afghans will go back after Pakistan begins expelling foreigners without papers
Associated PressISLAMABAD — About 1.3 million Afghans are expected to return to their country of origin from Pakistan, the U.N. health agency warned, weeks after authorities began expelling foreigners living in the country illegally. In a statement Thursday, the WHO said the “sudden and increased flux of such returnees, along with other related factors, poses significant public health concerns.” It also warned of the risk of disease outbreaks and transmission of wild poliovirus at the points where Afghans are entering the country. The latest development also comes a day after the U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk said in a statement he was alarmed by reports that the arbitrary expulsion of Afghan nationals from Pakistan has been accompanied by abuse, including ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests and detention, destruction of property and personal belongings and extortion. At a news briefing on Thursday, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the repatriation of all illegal foreigners, including Afghans, was taking place “in a humane manner.” She said Pakistan would take action against individuals who may be involved in harassment of any individual facing deportation.